126 Comments

Jesus! Thank you.

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Good morning, Garrison: Don't look forward to hitting the sack at night but am usually up early, sometimes very early because it's an exciting time of clear thinking and the mind is spinning with new ideas. Then it's a note on my desktop from you. My day is almost complete this early in the morning. RR

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I often read part of your writings to my husband and we say Amen! We remember listening to you on the radio as we drove to a Saturday night meeting! Thank you.

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Sweet piece and a prayer I’ll be repeating from now to the election.

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As a St Paul/Grand & Summit Ave memory-laden long-time resident, this brought tears of warmth and joy.

Thank you.

*Singing with Brandi must be something special. ☮️

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For the sake of our children...I'm tryin...

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A church session on end of life planning suggested we write our own obituaries. That was the most beautiful one I could imagine— full of gratitude and joy! May you experience many more such wonderful moments for years to come.

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She’s the one who proposes turning the page - yet has been in the wheelhouse of this unmitigated disaster the last four years. What else do propose at this late date? Cackling, flirting and batting her eyelashes does not a President make. That administration is not competence but a collection of DEI tick boxes.

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Unmitigated disaster? You must live in a different world than I do.

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I think we have been in a slow and steady economic decline since the 1950s when the average household had one breadwinner, they owned their house, had one car in the driveway, did not worry about health or house insurance, and one of the parents stayed at home with the preschool kids.

I think both parties have contributed to an unmitigated disaster that may be happening right now, we just do not realize it.

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My life in the ‘50s as did that of many look like you described. I thought all moms and dads if you had one or both worked.

And the voters elect those who lead.

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Lawrence, do you ever take a stand? Can't you take a look at Trump's despicable behavior, his fascism (if not from me, take it from the former chairman of the joint chiefs) and admit that under no circumstances should he ever set foot in the White House again? Or are you always agnostic about everything as you say you are about religion, even though you nevertheless want your daughters to look more kindly upon Christianity? I guess the only thing I've heard you take a stand on is that you think cities are liberal and evil. Does everything come down to country vs. city for you, and does that somehow make you agnostic about fascism? There is a lot of good in cities, too, you know. Maybe try agnosticism when it comes to cities. Please take a stand--the right stand-- where it really matters. I write this because someone posted a preposterous comment here, another person pointed out the fallacy of it and your response was to sort of awkwardly try to amplify the original silly comment while posing as some kind of voice of reason and moderation. What's the point? In the end, you are only helping to elevate a fascist who we've long known has been corrupt and a fraud his entire life. P.S. The American economy is absolutely booming. It's not great for everyone, but it wasn't even close to great for everyone in the 50s, either. Many, many Americans did not experience the carefree existence you describe.

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Sorry, I put my comments below by mistake. But here you go:

Dana you can call me Larry.

Of course I take stands!!

I spend a great deal of time and energy trying to understand other people's perspectives. And as a result I have come to accept a lot of paradoxes. I could see how my acceptance of paradox could be misinterpreted that I do not take a stand. But I do. For example, I am voting for Trump, even though I do not like him. How is that for a stand? But I will probably vote for a democratic US Senator.

City and country people? Not sure where you have lived Dana, but I grew up in Chicago, spent about a decade in the South in the country, and about two decades in the country in New York. While in New York I interacted a fair amount with politicians in Albany trying to get NYC legislators to understand problems we were having in the country, while learning what problems they were having.

In broad generalities, I believe that people in the country just want to be left alone. They like their traditions. That does not mean they have not and can't change. I believe they are tired of city progressives coming into their turf and telling them how to change. And folks from the country are not stupid, so they know city folks really ought to be taking care of their own problems before telling somebody else how to fix their problems. So its not that I think cities are evil, I just think they need to stop making their problems everyone elses. Personally, I think large cities should outlaw guns, internal combustion engines, and be held accountable for making their own energy. And all of these things are possible, it would just be difficult.

You may think the American economy is booming, but that must be because you are at least upper middle class. The recent inflation we have experienced is killer for those not as lucky as you and I. The so-called 2024 federal poverty level is $31K for a family of 4. Thats a bloody joke. Ever hear of United Way's definition of Asset Limited, Income Contrained, Employed (Alice)? Its a lot more realistic. The range of ALICE for a family of 4 is $28K-$70K. Using an average of $50K, 35% of 4 family American households are under financial stress. Unfortunately I never hear of anyone trying to help this group. A little bit of safety hear, and little bit of environmental there, and I think we could get the cost of a car up to $50K!!! Think Alice households have a need for cars? Unanticipated environmental costs help to kill Alice households. The new stuff costs money. Its too bad neither party gives a shit about these people. Of course I would expect Republicans to not care (unfortunately), but not Democrats.

Finally, I really hope you do not run away if Trump gets elected. We will need some caring people around to make sure that the USA does not become a fascist state. Sorry, but I think the whold fascist thing is a joke.

Got more work to get to. See you on the other side of November 5 and take care.

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“A man a president makes.”

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Thank you for this succinct summary of a sad and silly comment.

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Don’t know what unmitigated disaster you are talking about. Things are going pretty well from here.

Non-stop lying, hate, sexual assault, fraud, blatant fascism do not a president make.

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I find it interesting that republicans have to resort to smiling and laughing as flaws in a leader. (Never mind the sexist tone of this particular remark—flirting? Batting eyelashes? Are you serious??) But then their guy clearly gave up good humor and civility sometime in early childhood.

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"Cackling, flirting and batting her eyelashes."

Misogynist.

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The only unmitigated disaster(s) have come from the ones who love chaos, drama, violence and vengeance, following on the heels of their corrupt, deceptive and cruel (mis)handling of a horrific pandemic. You know his name. I won't say it. One of many Republicans who despise him is author and former Republican advisor Rick Wilson who titled his book with perfect description: "Everything Trump Touches Dies."

Let us hope that does not (continue) to pertain to our country. He is a foul, craven and depraved miasma that has settled over the land but maybe fresh, clean breezes are coming soon.

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CBR must stand for

Current Bullying Redneck

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"For the sake of the children, keep the elderly incoherent crackpot out of the White House." This would make a good T-shirt slogan. 😎

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I’d buy it!

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Smiling. Oh yes!!

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A few decades ago my new husband and I listened to the (then) taped version of your cross country trip with your new bride as you began your chapter as a blended family. We cried with laughter as you described the young teens in the back seat engrossed in their Walkmans while you narrated the natural wonders of canyons and buttes just outside the car window. We had also attempted a similar journey with two “tweens” who could not have been more disinterested. However, soon thereafter they happened upon us enjoying our weekly dose of Prairie Home Companion and they became avid fans and you became a blessed and regular feature of our wobbly attempt at becoming a blended family. We thanked you then over the radio waves and years later were able to express our love and gratitude in person at your concert in Boston. As an added and joyous coincidence, your niece and my daughter became good friends during their school years together. Such musical joy and belly laughing wisdom you bestowed upon us then and now. How badly we need it now. Huzzah, huzzah, and thank you again dear sir. From the bottom of our senior hearts. ♥️

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You made my day. Thank you.

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Simply: Amen.

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Beautiful glimpse of a God blessed life, Mr. Keillor, and if you wrote it all just to deliver that last sentence, you're not the writer that you think you are, and the editor who you so revere would have slashed his red pencil through it and not listened to you weep and wail about how he doesn't know good writing, but then you'd later have thanked him for doing what you could not bring yourself to do.

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Tell us how you REALLY feel. 😂

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😳🤬😱

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Talk to your guy about his admiration of Arnold Palmer's penis and how V-P Harris is a "retard" and how the 2020 election was fraudulent.

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He's not my "guy," Mr. Keillor, but if I ever do see the man, I'll be sure and mention what you said. I honestly just think that you marred a beautiful piece of writing by throwing in that last sentence, and I think that you know it too. Sorry if I touched a nerve.

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On second thought, I think that it's beneath you and the talent that you have as a writer to punch down at your readers like you're doing on this comments thread calling some a cultist like you did a lady a few comments down who said that she loved your post but also wished that you'd left off the discordant last sentence about Donald Trump. If that's how you really feel, Mr. Keillor, then go tell your tales to the people like yourself and please quit pretending that you care about all of your fans, half of which you apparently despise. I wish you a good rest of your life. I'm grateful for the joy that you brought into mine for so long, almost five decades. I'm sorry that our country is so divided. I wish we had two better candidates for POTUS this year than what we got. But I believe that I'll end my subscription now and let the seats that I've already bought for not one but two of your upcoming concerts sit empty, and if you notice them as you disingenuously lead the audiences in singing about our shared faith and freedoms, maybe you'll remember what an ass you were tonight and strive to become a better man. Vaya con dios, mi amigo. Adios.

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I'm sure everyone is dying to click on your link. 🤔

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Well, Dana. The post has had about double my usual relatively small number of reads. Were you one of them?

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Good grief. First, your assessment of Garrison Keillor's essay is just plain wrong. He has always gone out of his way to be respectful to both Democrats and Republicans. That doesn't mean he can't say what he thinks of a political candidate. And yes, Trump IS your guy, because otherwise you wouldn't be whining here like a nine-year-old and threatening to unsubscribe and let your tickets go to waste. Just be an adult and give them to somebody who might enjoy them.

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That's my point, Dana. In all my past experience reading GK a lot this past year since I happily learned last spring that he wasn't dead like I had thought that he was, I'd never read anything like the increasing anger that he's been venting. It's one thing to aim that anger at Donald Trump, who by the way is NOT my "guy," although I see that I'll never convince you of that, but you can read my thoughts on the subject if you want to by clicking the link at the end of this comment. No, I unsubscribed and decided not to go to GK's concerts because I so objected to Garrison waving Arnold Palmer's dick in my face and, mostly, because he called a lady a cultist without knowing anything about her except that, like me, she didn't like that unnecessary last sentence on this beautiful post he wrote. We both just wanted the old Garrison Keillor who we've loved for the last fifty years without the intrusive, triggering references to this goddamn election that's driving everyone bonkers. And by the way, I have offered the concert seats to family members like you who have taken me to task for what I did and what I wrote. So far nobody wants them. But I heard something on the radio about a website where people can donate unused tickets that will then be given to vets. I'll do that. Or would you like the tickets? I have four for Tucson and two for Irvine, both in January, which by then, hopefully, we'll know whether Tweedledee or Tweedledum is our next President of these United (God willing) States. You can message me though Substack if you want any of the tickets. Peace, Dana. Thank you for your reply. https://themjkxn.substack.com/p/im-gonna-be-a-happy-idiot

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Actually, Dana, call me an “Indian Giver,” if you must, but a lefty college professor friend of mine who last saw GK when he was in high school and GK was just starting out is gonna go to the Tucson concert with me and our wives so that I can apologize to Garrison for writing him off and he can apologize to me for referencing Arnold Palmer’s junk and we can maybe shake hands and have a good laugh about it all. You can have the Irvine tickets if you want those unless somebody Substack messages me for them before you do. 😎 https://youtu.be/UB-yb4GBSWA?feature=shared

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Love this guy's writing!!

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I thank you kindly for this beautiful post. It reminded me of so many things that I have done over my lifetime. I loved reading about your experiences.

And yes, please deliver Ms. Harris to the White House, a leader we can trust and be proud of; one who can guide us to improve as a nation.

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Beautiful! And the best line was the last!

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